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Women as victims of war

The fact that sexual rape has emerged in some parts of the world as a weapon of war is adequate proof of the dehumanising cruelty being visited on women in times of conflict and discord. That women in these regions are being thus undignified at gun-point and even forced to bear the offspring of invading armies, while being indicative of the disdain in which womankind is held in some sections of masculine society are also pointers to the inhuman subjugation they are called on to suffer.

Fortunately, such indignities are no longer being borne by these women in mute silence. Their cause is being taken up by women's organizations and international federations of such groups around the world. One such meet has already got off the ground in Sri Lanka under the banner, 'International Conference on Women Peace-Building and Constitution-Making', organised by the Colombo-based International Centre for Ethnic Studies.

It features women activists from a number of war-torn countries and regions - Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Afghanistan and the Middle East, being some of these. The participants would be pooling their ideas and experiences in a bid to, essentially, play a bigger role in peace-making and constitution - building.

It goes without saying that women are a principal presence in any conflict zone, Sri Lanka's North-East included. They, along with children, constitute a significant segment of the victims of war. Our refuge camps in the North-East are teeming with women and children. This is why the current peace effort should take special cognizance of vulnerable groups such as women and children. Addressing their needs should be high on the peace agenda, for, it is they who constitute the heart and soul of a society.

We strongly endorse the decision to hold the current international conference in Colombo because it would help in highlighting the gross indignities suffered by women during times of conflict and spotlight the need for political settlements to take into account the special needs of women. It should be remembered that a considerable number of war widows have been turned into hapless refugees and sole bread winners of families.

Accordingly, women and children swell the ranks of the destitutes of war. The authorities should also take into consideration the number of women who have been widowed among the spouses of State security forces personnel. In Sri Lanka alone, scores of them are today weeping in hapless silence and despair. They are also part of the human cost of war and conflict. They too must be fended and cared for.

Fake Viagra

Viagra, the wonder drug driving males, both young and old, suffering from erectile- dysfunction, queuing drug stores was in the news again.

There was, however, a difference, which our old gentry had decided to ignore. The queues, in Colombo, were not for Viagra but for a counterfeit brand of the same. We Sri Lankans are quite familiar with fakes, quacks and the like and hence it should not cause any surprise.

In our opinion, what made these gentlemen go after the fake was the price of the real Viagra, some 800 odd rupees for a single tablet. They would have thought the satisfaction or the embarrassment derived would be too much for such an amount.

Medical experts have warned over and over again against using Viagra without medical advice, for the extra blood flowing into the veins may even cause death for patients with heart ailments. Perhaps they would be adherents of the philosophy heta merunath hitata sepai ada joli karala (It is fine to enjoy today, even if you die tomorrow.) It is the moneyed elite that goes for the real thing. As far as the ordinary folk are concerned, they are not at all concerned about Viagra. They could manage with a glass of vel penela (herbal syrup) for a mere two-pence

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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